international
B1Formal, neutral, academic
Definition
Meaning
Involving or existing between two or more nations or countries; crossing national boundaries.
Pertaining to activities, agreements, organizations, or individuals that operate across or between different nations. Can also describe something of worldwide scope, recognition, or influence (e.g., an international celebrity).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies interaction, agreement, or recognition beyond a single nation's borders. While often political or economic, it can apply to cultural, sporting, or scientific spheres. It does not necessarily mean "global" or "worldwide," as it can involve just a few specific nations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor differences: In British financial contexts, "International" may appear in company names more frequently (e.g., HSBC Holdings plc). In American sports, "world" is often preferred where British English uses "international" (e.g., "world series" vs. "international match").
Connotations
In both dialects, carries connotations of cooperation, diplomacy, and prestige. In political discourse, can sometimes carry a slight negative connotation of bureaucracy or loss of sovereignty for certain audiences.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. Slightly more frequent in British English in formal political/journalistic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj] + international + [Noun] (e.g., major international conference)international + [Noun] + [Prep] (e.g., international cooperation on climate change)of international + [Noun] (e.g., a matter of international concern)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'international' as a fixed component]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to trade, markets, companies, and regulations spanning multiple countries (e.g., 'Our international sales division').
Academic
Used in fields like International Relations, International Law, and studies comparing phenomena across nations.
Everyday
Commonly used for travel (flights), sport (matches between countries), food, and news about events involving multiple countries.
Technical
In computing/telecoms, refers to standards (e.g., International Standards Organization - ISO) or call routing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The firm is looking to internationalise its operations.
American English
- The company plans to internationalize its brand.
adverb
British English
- The band is internationally recognised for their work.
American English
- The product is sold internationally.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father works for an international company.
- We flew from an international airport.
- The United Nations is an important international organisation.
- There are new international laws about pollution.
- The treaty was hailed as a landmark in international diplomacy.
- Her research gained international acclaim after publication.
- The arbitration was conducted under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce.
- Critics argue that globalisation has eroded the efficacy of traditional international governance structures.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word broken down: INTER-NATIONAL. INTER means 'between' (like internet, interact). So it's literally 'between nations'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATIONS ARE CONTAINERS. 'International' conceptually represents connections or bridges BETWEEN these containers.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'интернациональный' which has a stronger historical/political connotation (proletarian internationalism). The English word is broader and more neutral.
- Avoid calquing phrases like 'international passport' - the correct term is 'passport'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'internation' (dropping the final 'al').
- Overuse as a synonym for 'foreign' (e.g., 'I bought an international car' sounds odd; 'imported car' is better).
- Incorrect stress: placing primary stress on the first syllable 'IN-ter-' instead of the third '-NA-'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST appropriate use of 'international'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'International' emphasizes relations or interactions between distinct nations. 'Global' implies a single, worldwide system or perspective, often ignoring national boundaries (e.g., 'global economy' vs. 'international trade agreements').
Yes, though less common. As a noun, it can refer to a sports match between national teams (e.g., 'He earned his first cap in an international') or a member of an international organization.
In the British IPA /ˌɪn.təˈnæʃ.ən.əl/, the 't' is a clear alveolar plosive [t]. In the American IPA /ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈnæʃ.ən.əl/, the symbol 't̬' represents a voiced alveolar flap [ɾ], sounding like a quick 'd' as in 'water' or 'ladder'.
Yes, it is very common (e.g., 'The film was released internationally', 'She is internationally known'). It functions as the adverbial form of 'international'.
Collections
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